Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Pointless legislation....

I'm glad to see that pointless legislative proposals have not been lost since Blair went. Apparently every worker is going to get the right to request time off to train. This is like the right to request flexible working.

This sort of nonsense is the very worst kind of gesture politics and frankly, it is utterly meaningless. You already have that "right" to do this, it's called opening your motuh and having a conversation with your boss. The boss doesn't have to listen, and under Brown's proposals he doesn't have to listen either.

Still, it makes politicians on high slaaries feel like they're actually doing something when in truth they're not.

11 comments:

Mr Brown said it again today.. Flexible working is no impediment to business.

He's right, but only because those companies that can make use of skilled people returning to work already have proceedures that allow them to do so, whilst those companies that don't.. well just don't have to bother.

As Dizzy says you now have a 'right' to 'a meeting' to request time to train.The right you actually have is that your employer MUST agree to hear your views [and take a record of them].

More red f.....g tape. The employer has to arrange an interview, take notes, and formulate reasons for granting or refusing the request.

The result: Most requests will be refused, for fear of creating a precedent which other employees could exploit.

John pickworth @ 19:59. No, these people don't have any idea what the real world looks like. Their only experience is of large public employers (polytechnics, government departments, etc.,) with bloated HR departments for whom these paper-pushing exercises are meat and drink.

It may be gesture politics but it is very effective politics. Brown is speaking to the Labour heartlands where it still is a sacrosanct truth that 'the boss' is an old school toff running inflexible working practices, exploiting the poor starving masses.

This gesture I'm sure will pick up several hundred thousand votes, or at the very least save such votes.

Brown may bite his fingernails to the quick in nervousness, but he ain't no fool.

From Browns budget speech "a new NHS Reform Bill to continue the change and renewal of the NHS: ... make it more accountable to local people, giving patients real power and control over the service they receive"

Yeah, consult with the people as they impose closure of local NHS units in favour of regional ones ( bigger, better salaries ).I expect they consulted us about local Post Offices too.